The general manager figured, like many, that the Redskins would select a quarterback. When they didn’t, he deciphered what it meant.
“What they said is that we’re changing the roster over; our year is not 2011, we’re looking at 2012,” the GM said. “That’s OK as long as the owner is on board with it. You can’t miss on the quarterback and give up a really good player you know can help. … They got a really good class. For the first time they looked at character hard; I’m sure that [Albert] Haynesworth thing put them over the edge.”
Besides, he said, the quarterback class was just the opposite: not good. He wasn’t crazy about any of the quarterbacks.
“In this class, they invented quarterbacks; it wasn’t based on the tape,” he said. “You can’t look at the tape and feel like all these guys will be bonafide QBs in the league. They had traits and great makeup, but there was a lot to be desired on the tape. I question how far they can go.”
The GM said the Redskins first four picks all could start at some point. If that happens, it would qualify as a great draft. The Redskins have never had such a draft since it went to seven rounds in 1994. Here’s the only one that produced even three starters: in 1995, they got Michael Westbrook, Cory Raymer and Jamie Asher. Of course, this is also the most picks they’ve had since 1985 so four starters is realistic.
“You shoot for four. Every year that’s the number,” he said. “You want four starters and you want them within two years; at worse the third year he’s starting. That’s realistic.”
The first two picks – linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and defensive end Jarvis Jenkins – should do so immediately. He sounded more sold on fourth-round pick, running back Roy Helu, than on the third-rounder, receiver Leonard Hankerson.
“Kerrigan is gonna be fine,” the GM said. “With Brian Orakpo on the other side, he’ll help them. At worse he’ll be a Justin Smith type or a Trace Armstrong. He’s gonna have a long career. He has edge speed; he’ll be productive.”
“I don’t feel like [Hankerson is] going to be a sure thing. He should be a starter but he had a lot of drops. But he had an excellent senior year and it was good to get him in the third round. I like Helu. He can be a great runner in Mike Shanahan’s scheme. They got a gem in him. Helu has to be in the right system, but that is the right system.”
He was split on the other two receivers, Niles Paul (fifth round) and Aldrick Robinson (sixth). His team had an interest in both guys.
“They had guys with starter traits, like Robinson. The kids got excellent speed. It’s great. His hands are average, but they’re good enough for a speed guy. He’s not the toughest guy, even though he was really productive for three years. We looked at him hard. There was a durability issue. You can rotate him in, try to stretch the defense and put him in a position to take shots. But he’s not an all-around receiver and he gives you nothing on special teams so he has to break into your top three because otherwise he’ll eat up a teams spot. Is he good enough to do that? If he isn’t he could fall through the cracks.
As for Paul, he said, “Paul is not a good route-runner and he’s tight hipped,” he said. “His hands are average. But he’s gonna be a great special teams player, so if he doesn’t crack the top three he’ll return the ball and cover kicks because he has toughness.”
Overall, he called it a solid class.
“They didn’t overdraft anybody. Evan Royster is very good; he’s the leading rusher in Penn State history. DeJon Gomes will be a good special teams guy. I like him. I even liked the linebacker they took in the sixth round [Markus White].”
